Nigerian lawyer Stan Alieke has explained that under Igbo customary law, a child’s paternity is confirmed by the payment of the bride price, not by a DNA test.
In a post on his Instastories, Alieke stated that if a man has not paid the bride price for the mother of his child, the child is considered illegitimate or without a recognized father under Igbo tradition.
He further explained that even if the woman has passed away, the man cannot claim custody of the child unless he fulfills the traditional requirement of paying the bride price.
This shows how significant bride price is in Igbo culture when it comes to recognizing a child’s father.
This traditional practice remains an important part of Igbo family values, highlighting the deep-rooted customs that govern marriage and paternity in the region.
